Legacy of the Dark Sage

For more than five years since Kyran was forced to leave his clan behind, he made decisions and even acted on them that he end up regretting.

One of Kyran's most regretted decisions was taking Byron as his Sigil. Not because the latter was not helpful but simply because his excessive admiration and loyalty pissed him off.

Another one he regretted was listening to Nolan's absurd ideas which he ended up acting recklessly. Then again, if not for that he would not have made contact with the Conclave and the path he would be treading right now would be different.

The people he met would probably be different too.

Kyran would not have met Zephyr and Cyneah. Two of the people he never regretted taking under his wings.

Then again, there was a saying that people would meet the ones they were meant to. Even if he had not made contact with the Conclave, he might eventually meet the two of them.

Just as he thought this, he recalled the state Cyneah had been when he first met her and could not help but wonder if everything that happened thus far was to meet her.

Kyran did not believe in fate. But Cyneah was practically dead when he met her. If he did not have a reason for going to the Valley of Morte, he would not have gone there.

With a wry smile, he recalled the uncanny resemblance Cyneah and the Crown Princess had and felt as if 'someone' was trying to mess up with him.

So much for not believing in fate.

In any case, he did not regret his decision in coming back for Cyneah.

...

Alright, so Kyran thought of killing Cyneah but in the end, he decided against it. And because of his decision, he now had a very reliable healer.

Err... that somehow came out wrong. He did not know she had healing abilities when he decided to come back for her.

He was just glad he did not kill her.

Nevertheless, it was because of this sentiment that he harbor another regret, and that was hurting her when they first met.

He recalled how he had thrown a Void Knife which hit her ribcage and left an ugly scar.

It only scraped her skin but Kyran knew that the scar it left would forever remain, like an ugly reminder of how she had been abandoned in that cave.

Such was a result when one was hit by his Void magic. Even the most powerful healing potion or pill would not be able to completely let that person recover what had been 'lost.'

Kyran knew this because he had witnessed it back in the Tower of Tribulation. All those people who suffered a wound from his Void magic ended up unable to regrow their limbs, or cover their scars.

There was an exception, though. And that was the Draconic magic's healing ability.

It was, for this reason, that though Kyran previously wounded Byron when his knee had pressed deeply on the latter's back while he was wearing his Void Armor after Byron became his Sigil, his wound healed visibly.

Maybe if Kyran made Cyneah his Sigil then he could remove her scar...

Kyran immediately rejected the random idea and pushed it out of his mind. Even if it was only temporary, he would never make her his Sigil.

One might wonder why Kyran was currently mulling over such random thoughts at a crucial time like this. But it was precisely it was a time like this that he entertained such thoughts.

This was his way of 'relaxing' his mind, after all.

Instead of coming up with more countermeasures if his plan failed tomorrow, he would rather relax his mind now.

Tomorrow may well be his first encounter with the Royal Family's military force, but he was still participating as Tyr, and there was only so much that his Tyr persona could do.

While Kyran believed the Royal Family's misunderstanding of Tyr's identity was troublesome, he already decided to go along with it.

Now that he thought of it, another one he regretted was how he portrayed Tyr's character.

Initially, he wanted to showcase Tyr's capability to ensure the Royal Family would see him as an invaluable addition to their number. But to counter Tyr's seemingly perfect character— especially since he also possessed an annoyingly handsome face— Kyran decided to make him an arrogant prick.

Who would have thought it would make the Royal Family think Tyr was some big shot from another nation? In the first place, the empire's border was tightly guarded. Would a big shot from another nation risk entering their territory? Why? Did it not cross their mind that he might be a spy?

All these questions went through his mind giving him a terrible headache.

Closing his eyes, Kyran leaned back on the three-seater wooden bench he was sitting on.

It was already late in the evening and he was resting outside the cottage's front porch, after finishing concocting a number of consumable items.

Initially, Kyran wanted to ask his godmother to concoct potions and pills for him. But thinking of the possibility that Anette's medicine might fall in the hands of the Royal Family and exposed her to the latter's 'invited guests,' he decided against it.

In the end, Kyran made it which resulted in his magic reserves dropping once again.

The reason why his magic reserves had not been replenished yet was that, when he arrived at the cottage two hours ago, there was nobody there.

Kyran connected to Zephyr at once and found that the 'pub' Anette and Cyneah were working at had an influx of customers and Cyneah had to stay a few more hours.

If Zephyr had not been there keeping watch from a distance, Kyran would have gone there to drag her and Anette back.

Regardless of what they say about the pub being a hospice since it was disguised as such, there were bound to be people with shady backgrounds going there.

Both of them might be in disguise, but Kyran did not want to take any chances.

Based on Tritus's report, there were unnamed VIPs from the Royal Family that arrived in Noser the other day.

Kyran had a feeling those VIPs were part of the 'invited guests' of the Royal Family. Their reason for coming here might have something to do with the Royal Family's 'Recruitment Plan.'

Their first target was the Conclave, and the Templar Code might be next.

[Master, the mistress has left the building. I'll meet her at the city's entrance and will return at once.]

Zephyr's voice entered Kyran's thoughts.

A wry smile tugged at the corner of Kyran's lips from how Zephyr addressed Cyneah.

But since he had gotten used to it and Cyneah did not seem to understand what it implied, Kyran did not react to it.

Sighing inwardly, Kyran opened his eyes.

What greeted his line of sight was the beautiful night sky.

Because the cottage was situated in the middle of the forest, the stars were visible and shone brightly above.

It was a beautiful sight.

A sight Kyran had almost forgotten after being away for years.

Looking at this scene was especially beautiful if he was in the garden at the main house in the Regis Estate...

Kyran pushed the thought away and sat up straight, he then replied telepathically to Zephyr.

'Alright. Stay alert.'

[I'll be sure to escort the mistress safely this time.]

Kyran sensed Zephyr's determination from his voice. It appeared he still held himself responsible from what had happened to Cyneah when they went to get her at Hanaan.

Choosing not to answer, Kyran stood up and made his way inside the cottage.

Half an hour later, Zephyr and Cyneah finally arrived.

Normally, it would take a whole day to get to the cottage from the city.

But Nolan had set up a hidden transportation array outside Noser City which was connected to another transportation array a hundred meters away from the cottage's premises, just before he and Kyran left for his 'training.'

Kyran instantly noticed Cyneah's exhaustion, but after she sensed him, her countenance brighten almost in an instant. Still, that did not change the fact that she definitely work herself out at the hospice.

This made Kyran hesitate in asking for her help in replenishing his magic energy.

However, as if Cyneah could read his mind, she told Kyran not to worry about her and that she'd be happy to help him.

It did not take long for Kyran to guess that she probably 'saw' his magic cores. Hopefully, they did not look that bad because Cyneah's voice had a hint of concern.

On the side, Zephyr excused himself before looking in their direction with a knowing smile.

Kyran, noticing this, shot him with a blank glare.

Three hours later, Kyran could now confidently say he was ready for the joint military exercise.

Kyran had not noticed it before, but after hearing Cyneah sing the 'Lament of the Souls,' he now had a better grasp of the difference between her singing from Haylee's.

There was something unreal about Haylee's singing. As if her voice did not come from the 'heart.'

To Kyran, this was a possible clue as to whether Haylee was born with the Soul core or only inherited it.

Apart from this, he realized that while the sone both of them had the same tune, the lyrics differ slightly.

The lyrics were sung in the ancient language and one would have difficulty noticing the difference, but Kyran acquired a lot of knowledge in the Tower of Tribulation and was able to detect it.

Because of this, Kyran's confidence in countering Haylee's 'mark' had improved.

He could not wait to see the look on the Emperor and Haylee's faces once they realized they could not control the Conclave's members.